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Eek! Woodworm!


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Got back to the boat last night after a gap of nearly two months.

 

I noticed a line of fine wood powder on the sheet covering the bed. This coincided with a number of tiny holes in the woodwork above. Looking closer there was more dust and holes nearby.

 

I'm trying to convince myself otherwise, at the same time hoping it will go away, but it looks like woodworm sad.png

 

So, whats to do? Looking on t'int a borax based solution seems to be the solution (!) Anyone tried it?

The holes are appearing in the finished lining of the boat, not rough timber, and I'm concerned that any treatment used might affect the surface finish of the lining.

 

Anyone else been in a similar situation? Any advice gratefully accepted.

 

Thanks in advance, and I might be a little slow in responding as internet connections are a bit iffy at the moment

 

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Ronseal woodworm treatment does exactly what it says on the tin. http://www.wickes.co.uk/Ronseal-Woodworm-Killer-Interior-Exterior-Wood-Treatment-1L/p/147601?CAWELAID=120135120001234160&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=17408411932&CATCI=aud-162418604692:pla-193347849412&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping%20-%20Garden&tmcampid=&tmad=c&tmplaceref=BHt9Se8P&utm_content=sBHt9Se8P%7Cpcid%7C43364563852%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7C&gclid=CKbD0rSu-84CFcQp0wodt7QHFQ#prodDynamicDeliveryTabTab

 

You do have to brush it all over, if you don't soak the wood you can't be sure of killing all the little beetles. Beware - it stinks.

 

If the wood is varnished then it won't work. Not really sure what to suggest in that case.

 

Tony

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You do have to brush it all over, if you don't soak the wood you can't be sure of killing all the little beetles. Beware - it stinks.

 

If the wood is varnished then it won't work. Not really sure what to suggest in that case.

Thanks for the speedy reply.

 

The smell is one thing I'm bothered about, don't really want to use a stinky product in the bedroom and I'm not sure if the wood affected has been varnished or polished but it has a 'finish' of some sort.

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I have treated wood that couldn't be soaked externally before, but it is time consuming and fiddly.

 

I went onto eBay and bought a pack of syringes (not hypodermic - you shouldn't need needles)

Cover any and all furnishings under the area.

 

Squirt the liquid into the largest holes you can find, you will probably be pleasantly surprised that it squirts back out via the smallest ones. They are often all connected.

 

If you can't get a tight seal around the end of the nozzle push it through a ball of BluTack, and use your spare hand to hold it snug against the wood.

 

It will take a long time and you're asking for too much so far as no smell is concerned.

 

However it's cheaper than the alternative.

And it has worked for me.

 

Good luck.

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Many years ago I brought back wood carving from Jamaica & it took pride of place in the living room. Some months later I found the tell tale pile of wood dust. Oh 'eck what to do?

 

I managed to acquire a quantity of formaldehyde together with a syringe & needle.

I squirted formaldehyde into a hole and it was just like one of those cartoons where the hero has been shot, the pressure opened up holes all over the thing. I guess the carver had simply covered them with wax or boot polish.

Anyway, I stuck the thing into a large poly bag & left it in the garage for a month. After this time the smell had dissipated, I filled the holes with wax, polished with boot polish (I'd seen the carvers do this) and all has been well for some 45 years.

 

Similar cure to that used by Zenataomm - yes it does work.

I guess you could maybe use poly sheet & masking tape to cover the "woodwork above"

 

I was told that once you see the hole it's too late - the bird (bug in this case) has flown but I've never found any other evidence around the house.

 

HH

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I was told that once you see the hole it's too late - the bird (bug in this case) has flown but I've never found any other evidence around the house.

 

HH

I have it on relatively good authority that they emerge as adults around May. I have seen some dead ones they are little brown beetles 2 or 3 mm long. Being a beetle they can fly so may be found dead at windows.

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Woodworm is only active apparently for short time each year ...I found some in Horror House..freaked out as it was yet another hassle. Painted all wood I could get to whether affected or not with the Ronseal product..several coats..smell soon went.

I was told not to bring untreated wood into the house.

Just about to delve into another area of damp thats just shown..its the damp wood they like to yomp on.

I will try the syringe method as not convinced lintel free...however it has been stained and I was told its difficult to treat that.

 

I had the guy out to survey the wood...he said that it's very slow progression and not to get to stressed over problem...

I hate woodworm.

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Not exactly applicable to boats, but have a look here before you go spraying chemicals everywhere:

 

http://www.askjeff.co.uk/woodworm-the-hole-in-the-argument/

Not relevant to the OP. He found the woodworm by virtue of the sawdust. That's not evicted woodworm, that's active woodworm.

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Got back to the boat last night after a gap of nearly two months.

 

I noticed a line of fine wood powder on the sheet covering the bed. This coincided with a number of tiny holes in the woodwork above. Looking closer there was more dust and holes nearby.

 

I'm trying to convince myself otherwise, at the same time hoping it will go away, but it looks like woodworm sad.png

 

So, whats to do? Looking on t'int a borax based solution seems to be the solution (!) Anyone tried it?

The holes are appearing in the finished lining of the boat, not rough timber, and I'm concerned that any treatment used might affect the surface finish of the lining.

 

Anyone else been in a similar situation? Any advice gratefully accepted.

 

Thanks in advance, and I might be a little slow in responding as internet connections are a bit iffy at the moment

 

Without taking offence you stay away from my boat.

 

On a helpfull side ronseal do a woodwork killer you can also get a fumigation thing that kills them but if its fresh and not much get them now or you will be replacing pannels fast.

Edited by wrigglefingers
Taste and style
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Not relevant to the OP. He found the woodworm by virtue of the sawdust. That's not evicted woodworm, that's active woodworm.

Oh yes it is. The adults won't have left the wood without laying eggs. Otherwise there would be no need to treat any wood which showed the exit holes. Believe me I have had experience of this in furniture made by maternal grandfather. Not to mention the fact my father and paternal grandfather were wheelwrights and fully conversant with the ins and outs of what woodworm do. I was told alll about them at a very early age.

 

Incidentally finding the "sawdust" is the usual way of finding woodworm, unless of course you happen to be working a piece of infected wood.

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Oh yes it is. The adults won't have left the wood without laying eggs.

 

Incidentally finding the "sawdust" is the usual way of finding woodworm, unless of course you happen to be working a piece of infected wood.

Yes, that is exactly what I said.

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I have it on relatively good authority that they emerge as adults around May. I have seen some dead ones they are little brown beetles 2 or 3 mm long. Being a beetle they can fly so may be found dead at windows.

 

Correct, when I used to 'clerk' at general auction sales back in the late '60's the beetles used to emerge when the auction room heated up in May - the joke was the furniture was 'held together by the woodworm holding hands'.... as has been said the dust is an indication that the beetles have flown and eggs remain. Plywood is a favourite meal, when inspecting houses the best place to spot woodworm activity is round the WC pan, wood always seemed to be damp there.

 

Sometimes they can be difficult to spot, one surface of a plank can be clear, due to polish/paint, turn it over and it's riddled with holes.

 

Take care if using chemicals and warn neighbours if spraying a preventative solution.

 

L.

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Yeah, it's easy not to get stressed when it's some one else's problem.

Well, yes!

It's not a problem that will cause the boat to sink if I don't do anything about it but if I ignore it it won't go away. At the moment the holes and wood dust are confined to the bedroom but I don't want it to spread. <He said stating the bleedin' obvious!>

Without taking offence you stay away from my boat.

You'll have to tell me where you are first! smile.png

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Plywood is a favourite meal

The lining is ash(?) faced ply with solid ash(?) ribs inbetween. (Not too sure what varity the wood is TBH)

 

'RW' was built in 2003 and I don't think anything has been done to the internal woodwork since. Certainly not in the years we have owned t'boat, 2011 onwards.

 

I'm wondering where the worm has come from and why it has waited until now before manifesting its rotten self?

 

Rather than faffing about and trying to do the job myself I'm leaning towards getting a professional in, shutting the bedroom doors and going for a fumigation cure.

 

Thanks again for your replies.

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As to where they've come from, the little beetles are flying around all over the place in the summer. If they find some wood that appeals to them (they find damp plywood particularly tasty) then they set up home.

 

So they might have only moved in last year.

 

I think fumigation will probably be the 'cleanest' solution but only a specialist will know.

 

Tony

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The lining is ash(?) faced ply with solid ash(?) ribs inbetween. (Not too sure what varity the wood is TBH)

 

'RW' was built in 2003 and I don't think anything has been done to the internal woodwork since. Certainly not in the years we have owned t'boat, 2011 onwards.

 

I'm wondering where the worm has come from and why it has waited until now before manifesting its rotten self?

 

Rather than faffing about and trying to do the job myself I'm leaning towards getting a professional in, shutting the bedroom doors and going for a fumigation cure.

 

Thanks again for your replies.

 

Really it's a question of luck, the beetles may have flown in and found a section of damp timber. Bearing in mind the life cycles of these beetles they may have been in the timber when the boat was built.

 

Not sure if you have a woodburning stove but a likely means of entry is bringing affected wood in for burning.

 

Replacement timber is the best idea, but when I took old unsold items home from the saleroom years ago I painted surfaces with white spirit, seemed to to the trick.

 

A picture of the affected area would help, it may not even be woodworm, there are several bark boring beetles which cause problems but do not affect the timber structurally.

 

It's when you hear the 'knocking' at night you worry -- the dreaded Death Watch beetle.....................................

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Not sure if you have a woodburning stove but a likely means of entry is bringing affected wood in for burning.

Yes, we do have a woodburner. It was the major non negociable when we bought 'RW'.

 

I was wondering if I might have accidently brought aboard some unwelcome guests.

 

sad.png

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Well, yes!

It's not a problem that will cause the boat to sink if I don't do anything about it but if I ignore it it won't go away. At the moment the holes and wood dust are confined to the bedroom but I don't want it to spread. <He said stating the bleedin' obvious!>

 

You'll have to tell me where you are first! smile.png

France hunt around france with them !!! :-)

 

Really it's a question of luck, the beetles may have flown in and found a section of damp timber. Bearing in mind the life cycles of these beetles they may have been in the timber when the boat was built.

 

Not sure if you have a woodburning stove but a likely means of entry is bringing affected wood in for burning.

 

Replacement timber is the best idea, but when I took old unsold items home from the saleroom years ago I painted surfaces with white spirit, seemed to to the trick.

 

A picture of the affected area would help, it may not even be woodworm, there are several bark boring beetles which cause problems but do not affect the timber structurally.

 

It's when you hear the 'knocking' at night you worry -- the dreaded Death Watch beetle.....................................

Its the beetle or the wife you locked out!

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